Audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus



Nov. 18, 1969 E, REED ETAL 3,473,537

AUDIO-T0VISUAL PATTERN CONVERTING APPARATUS Filed March so, 19663,478,637 AUDIO-TO-VISUAL PATTERN CONVERTING APPARATUS Edward A. Reed,Star Rte. 882, 14609 Moody, Orange,

Calif. 92667, and Hrand M. Muncheryan, Anaheim,

Calif; said Muncheryan assignor to said Reed Filed Mar. 30, 1966, Ser.No. 545,204 Int. Cl. A631 17/00 US. Cl. 84-464 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Apparatus for generating a pattern of changing colored lightson a screen as a function of the frequency variations of an audiblesignal. A plurality of channels are provided, one for each frequencyband, each channel providing changes from dim light with soft sounds tovery bright light with loud sounds. Means are provided to set the biasof each channel to adjust the sensitivity thereof and for varying thissensitivity over a wide range.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for the visualinterpretation of acoustic effects and more particularly to an apparatusto convert audio signals into a visual display of colors variable inaccordance with change of frequencies of said audio signals.

It is well known in the art of color motion pictures ac companied bymusic that certain psychological moods or soothing effects can beproduced in the observer and listener, by blending the harmony of musicwith lighting effects. To produce such eflects in the home fromarticulate sound and music of radio, phonograph, and television, manytypes of light-controlled devices have been devised, but thus far theyhave not been successful in harmonious rendition of audio signals intovisual representations. This difliculty may be contributed to the lackof sufficient sensitivity obtainable from earlier apparatus, becausesuch equipments have been designed to control the illumination ratherthan the color tone of the visual display. Accordingly, it is one of theprincipal objects of this invention to provide a color effect intimatelysynchronized with variations in the volume and quality of sound producedby electrically-operated musical instruments, such as radio, television,phonograph, and like instruments.

A further object of the invention is to produce an audioresponsiveapparatus which responds to all frequencies in the audible range andproduces a variable visual display of color in correspondence with thevarying audio-frequencies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality ofcolored lamps representing various colors of the visible spectrum, fromblue to red, so arranged that higher audio frequencies will producecorrespondingly higher frequency illumination (blue), and lower audiofrequencies will produce correspondingly low-frequency light (red), andaudio frequencies intermediate to these will produce illumination oflight frequencies intermediate to red and blue; that is, yellow andgreen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of rotatingreflectors with segments positioned, in the posterior aspects of saidlamps, in random directions so that light patterns from differentlycolored lamps Will never be duplicated when incident on a screen.

Another object of the invention is to provide a translucent screendisposed anteriorly to the colored lamps so that reflected light fromthe lamps can be blended with each other to form an over-all diffusedcolor tone on said screen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a circuit fordirectly connecting a plurality ofv colored lamps to a commercial sourceof 115 volts alternating current for United States Patent "ice use ofhigh wattage lamps in order to obtain spectacular displays.

One other object of the invention is to provide a plurality of audiofrequency responsive channels of successively varying bands of frequencysignals coupled to the corresponding colored lamps.

These objects and other advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the description of the specification taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a typical design configuration of theinvention resting on top of a radio or phonograph console partiallyshown,

FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of the audio-to-visual convertingsystem,

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation of a typical illumination reflectorforming a part of the invention, and

FIGURE 4 illustrates the illumination section viewed downward from topposition, showing the arrangement of the colored lamps, reflectors, andmirrors which are positioned posteriorly to the reflectors.

In the signal converting system shown schematically in FIGURE 2, thereare three audio frequency channels designated by numerals 10, 11, and12, receiving 1l5-volt A.C. operating power through an outlet power plug13. This power furnishes filament-heating current and plate voltages tothe detectors 14, 15, and 16, and also serves to supply electric energyto a small motor 40 and to the dual lamps 17, 18, and 19, when therespective associated circuits of channels 10, 11, and 12 are energized.These lamps may have any suitable color and are interchangeable. Thecircuit of each of channels 10-12 contains a filter section 20, 22 and24, respectively designed to transmit a preassigned band of frequenciesand to suppress those outside the band. Each filter section contains avariable impedance section by which the selected channel circuit may betuned to increase or decrease the signal intensity, whereby torespectively increase or decrease the illumination intensity of thecorresponding lamps. An input transformer 28 is the primary source ofelectrical energy for the operation of channels 10-12 and is connectedbetween an audio frequency signal source and said channels via lines 26and 27.

The operation of channel 10 is such that when an audio frequency signalis impressed across the secondary winding of input transformer 28, thesignal is applied to the filter section thereof which presents a highreactance to all frequencies other than those within the range of 0 to410 cycles per second, thereby permitting only the bass frequencies topass therethrough. The accepted bass signal is then applied to arectifier 10a which is placed in channel 10 in such a manner that itspolarity will permit only the positive portion of each cycle to continuetherethrough, this positive portion of each cycle being applied to aWave shaping network 10b. The signal from wave shaping network 10b isapplied via a resistor 10c to the grid of tube 14.

The source of electrical energy for tube 14 is derived directly from anycommercial 115 volt, AC, 60 c.p.s. source via power plug 13, lines 13a,13b and 130 and lamp 17. Since the total AC. voltage is present at theplate of tube 14, the same voltage is therefore placed across dual lamp17, the remainder of the circuit for current flow circuit. Therefore,proper operation of the circuit is dependent on no current flow throughtube 14 unless an audiosignal is present on the grid thereof. Thiscondition is accomplished by placing a bias voltage on the grid of tube14 to maintain such tube normally cut off. Since an A.C. voltage isalways present at the plate of tube 14, it is further necessary thatthis bias voltage be 180 out of phase with the voltage on the plate;that is, when a positive half cycle of A.C. voltage is present on theplate of tube 14, a negative voltage must be applied to the gridthereof.

Such biasing is achieved by means of transformer 35 whose primary isconnected to power plug 13 via lines 13a and 30 and whose secondary, inaddition to providing the necessary voltage for the heaters of tubes 14,and 16, serves as the source of the bias voltage mentioned hereinbefore.Since the primary winding of transformer 35 is connected to the sameA.C. source as the plate circuits .of tubes 14-16, the voltage acrossthe primary winding is in phase with said plate voltages. Therefore, thesecondary winding of transformer 35 is connected to the grid circuits oftubes 14, 15 and 16 in such a manner that the voltages applied theretowill be 180 out of phase with the voltage across the primary winding andtherefore 180 out of phase with the voltage at the plates of said tubes.

Channel 10 further includes a bias control network 10d which comprises apotentiometer and capacitor combination. The purpose of thepotentiometer is to provide the proper bias voltage to maintain tube 14just below its cutoff point. The characteristics of tube 14 are suchthat when it is biased below its cutoff point, a positive signal fromchannel 10 energizes tube 14 thereby permitting activation of dual lamp17.

In this manner, tubes 14-16 act as threshold devices, positioned betweenthe external audio signal source and dual lamps 1719, and operative toenergize lamps 17-19 whenever the audio signals in the respectivechannels exceed an individually adjustable minimum value which isdetermined by the setting of the respective bias control networks.

The operation of channels 11 and 12 and the filter sections 22 and 24,respectively, thereof is substantially identical to that described abovefor channel 10 and filter section 20 thereof with the followingexceptions. The filter section 22 of channel 11 transmits onlyfrequencies lying between 410 and 820 cycles, and the impedance section23 provides the necessary grid-leak bias for the normal operation of thetube 15, as described for tube 14. The filter section 24 is a high-passfilter and transmits all frequencies within the range of 820 and 20,000cycles; the impedance section 25 may be employed to adjust the bias oftube 16. The grid-leak impedance sections are particularly usefulbecause when it is desired to make the music soft, the same intensitiesof illumination as for loud music can be produced in the lamps as whenloud music is playing.

In operation, audio signals from the loudspeaker of a radio, phonograph,or a similar musical instrument are led by conductors 26 and 27selectively into the circuit of one or more of the filter sections 10,11, and 12, depending on the frequencies of the audio signals enteringthe system. A transformer 28 amplifies the audio frequency voltage priorto applying it to the filter responsive to the particular frequency andintensity of the transmitted signal, and the variable resistor 28a isused to shut off any static interferences. For instance, all audiofrequency signals within zero and 410 cycles bandwidth of the detector14 circuit will energize this tube, which will then pass current to theassociated lamps 17 to light them to a brilliancy dependent on thetransmitted energy. One of the lamps of the dual lamp section 17 has ared color and the other an orange color. The filament of the orangecolored lamp has a lower resistance than that of the red colored lamp.Consequently, lower-energy signal intensity received from tube 14 willlight the orange colored lamp first, the higher-intensity energylighting the red lamp and increasing the brilliancy of illumination ofthe orange colored amp.

Similar to the operation of detector 14 circuit, all audio frequencysignals within 410 and 820 cycle bandwidth received by the detectorcircuit of tube 15 will light the dual lamps 18, one of which is greenand the other is yellow. The filament of the yellow lamp has a lowerresistance than that of the green lamp and therefore the yellow lampwill glow first. Higher intensity signals within the bandwidth of thiscircuit will cause the green lamp to glow, while the yellow lamp willglow more brilliantly.

The circuit of channel 12 operates on the same principle as that in bothof the previously described channels 10 and 11. Audio frequency signalshaving frequencies above 820 cycles received through the conductors 26and 27 will energize the detector 16 circuit. This action will cause acurrent flow to the lamps 19 from the plate circuit of tube 16. One ofthe lamps of section 19 is light blue and the other magenta. Thefilament of the light-blue lamp has a lower resistance than that of themagenta lamp. Thus, lower-level (low intensity) signals energizing thetube 16 will cause the light-blue lamp to glow first. The higherlevelsignals will energize the magenta lamp and increase the brilliancy ofillumination of the light-blue lamp.

It will thus be seen that the dual lamps 17, 18, and 19 will light withan intensity (brilliancy) in accordance with the variations of theincoming audio signal energies selectively activating the circuits ofthe detectors 14, 15, and i 16. Consequently, the variation in the pitchor frequency of audible sound of music or spoken words will selectivelyenergize the detector circuits of channels 10, 11, and 12, while theincrease or decrease in loudness or amplitude of sound waves willrespectively increase or decrease the intensity of the signal whichenergizes the detector tubes. Therefore, the intensity of the dual lamps17, 18, and 19 will change selectively from a minimum to a maximum inaccordance with the changes in loudness of the sound signal receivedthrough conductors 26 and 27. With a very loud music program, if it isdesired to reduce the sound amplitude and at the same time to retain theintensity of variations of light in the individual pairs of lamps, therespective tuning sections 21, 23, and 25 may be adjusted to obtain thedesired illumination intensity from the lamps.

The entire electronic and illumination sections of the system may becompactly housed in a cabinet, an exemplary design configuration ofwhich, designated by numeral 29, is shown in FIGURE 1. The electricpower is led into the cabinet 29 through the electric cord 30, which maybe plugged into any convenient -volt circuit outlet. The systemoperation can be performed in one of two modes: (1) acontinuous-operation mode, and (2) a programmed-operation mode. If acontinuous-operation mode is desired, the main switch 31 is first turnedon, then the switch 32 is turned on. For a programmed operation, theswitch 33 is turned on, while the main switch 31 is still on. The twoswitches 32 and 33 are so arranged that if switch 32 is closed, theswitch 33 opens, and vice versa. For a programmed operation, the switch33 channels the current from cord 30 into a clock mechanism 34, whichcan be set, similar to a conventional electric-oven clock, to anypredetermined time of start and stop in accordance with the programschedule of the radio, television, or similar programs, such as anorchestra program given in a theatre.

In either mode of operation, the input power from inlet 13 energizes thestep-down transformer 35; the low-voltage secondary 36 of thistransformer supplies current to the filaments 37, 38, and 39 of therespective tubes 14, 15, and 16 as Well as the beforementioned bias. Thesecondary current also furnishes energy to a low-speed motor 40, which,through pulleys 41 connected to its shaft 42 and belts 43 together withrespective pulleys 43a and 44a connected to the reflectors 45, 46, and47, rotates them at a slow rate. Each of the reflectors is shaped into adish configuration, such as that illustrated in FIG. 3. Each reflectoris segmented, such as at 48 and 49, and each segment is slightly twistedto a random direction, so that light from each segment reflects in adifferent direction. The lamps 17, 18, and 19 and the respectivereflectors 45,

46, and 47 are enclosed in the cabinet 29 behind a translucent screen50. Accordingly, the light reflecting from reflector, for instance, 45may blend on the screen 50 with that reflected from reflector 46 or 47,or vice versa. In this manner, the screen is illuminated with awariablepattern at all times regardless of the frequency-responsive operativecondition of channels 10, 11, and 12.

The arrangement of the lamps and the reflectors within the cabinet isillustrated, viewed from top, in FIGURE 4. Posteriorly to the reflectorsare secondary reflectors of polished metal sheets or glass mirrorsdesignated by numerals 51, 52, and 53. The mirrors are employed tofurther amplify the direct and stray illuminations reaching the screen50.

From the preceding description, it will be apparent that the system issusceptible to various other modifications, such as by beingtransistorized, and by addition or subtraction of parts not specificallyreferred to in the specification, without departing from the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. An audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus adapted to receiveaudio signals and an A.C. voltage from an external source, comprising, aplurality of audio frequency channels responsive to said audio signals,each of said channels being responsive to a different band offrequencies in the audible frequency range, each of said channelscomprising:

at least one illuminator; and

means operatively coupled between said external source of audio signalsand said illuminator for energizing said illuminator when said audiosignal exceeds a predetermined minimum value, said energizing meanscomprising:

a vacuum tube having a plate, a cathode and at least one control grid,said plate and cathode being connected in series circuit withsaidilluminator and said external source of A.C. voltage, said audiosignals being applied to said control grid; and

means for applying said A.C. voltage to said control grid with a phaseshift of 180 with respect to the A.C. voltage applied to said plate soas to maintain said tube in a cut-off condition in the absence of anaudio frequency signal which exceeds said minimum value.

2. An audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus according to claim 1wherein said means for applying said A.C. voltage to said control gridcomprises a transformer.

3. An audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus according to claim 1wherein said energizing means further comprises:

means coupled between said control grid and said cathode for varying thecut-ofl level of said tube to thereby adjust said predetermined minimumvalue, the predetermined minimum value of each of said channels beingindividually adjustable.

4. An audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus according to claim 3wherein said means for varying the cutoff level of said tube comprises apotentiometer.

5.. An audio-to-visual pattern converting apparatus according to claim 1wherein each of said channels comprises:

a plurality of illuminators, said illuminators being arranged inparallel between said energizing means and said external source of audiosignals, said illuminators being arranged to be sequentially energizedas the intensity of said audio signal increases, each of saidilluminators remaining illuminated and increasing in brilliance as theintensity of said audio signal increases and as subsequent illuminatorsare energized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,283 3/1942 Burchfield84-464 2,854,530 9/1958 Van Eldik l79171 1,654,068 12/ 1927 Blattner84-464 1,946,026 2/1934 Lewis et a1. 84-464 1,977,997 10/ 1934 Patterson84-464 2,677,297 5/ 1954 Wetzel 84-464 3,005,919 10/1961 Dias 307141.43,059,185 10/ 1962 Krugrnan 325-396 3,163,077 12/ 1964 Shank 844643,163,078 12/1964 Elliott 84464 STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

